Born: August 14, 1926 - Deceased: April 14, 2022
Rosemary Holten, nee White, born August 14, 1926, in East St. Louis, Illinois, died April 14, 2022 in her home in Swansea, Illinois at the age of 95.
Rosemary was a loving Wife, Mother, and Grandmother. She graduated from St. Teresa Academy in East St. Louis, Illinois and attended LeClerc College in Belleville, Illinois. Rosemary worked along side her husband of 66 years, J. Dewey Holten, Jr., in the operation of the Holten Funeral Home in East St. Louis and Belleville, Illinois. She excelled in homemaking, cooking, and organizing. She enjoyed the outdoors, boating, fishing, listening to music, playing the piano, and was an avid reader. Rosemary was a role model for her three children, to whom she devoted her life. She was a member of Saint Henry Catholic Church in Belleville, Illinois.
She was preceded in death by her:
- Husband: J. Dewey Holten, Jr.
- whom she married on April 10, 1950 at St. Patrick’s Church in East St. Louis, Illinois
- Parents: John E. and Anna nee Kahs White
- Three brothers
- Robert White
- Thomas White
- Richard White
- Five sisters
- Sister Mary Stephen White ASC
- Dorothy Landgraf
- Ruth Cobbs/Eagles
- Eleanor Wilson
- Virginia Clark
- Two sisters-in law
- Marjorie White
- Janet White
- Five brothers-in-law
- James Eagles
- Ralph Cobbs
- Joseph Wilson
- Ralph “Buddy” Clark
- Leo Landgraf
Surviving is her:
- Son: J. Dewey Holten, III (Christine Kirmaier) of University City, Missouri
- Daughters
- Julia Holten Roberts (John D. Roberts) of Belleville, Illinois
- Lori Denise Allen (J. Eddie Allen) of Birmingham, Alabama
- Three grandchildren
- Jonah Everest Allen
- Tessa Rose Allen
- Creed Edward Allen
- One sister-in-law: Geraldine “Jerry” Pabst of Belleville, Illinois
- Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Belleville Area Humane Society.
Visitation: Visitation from 1:30 – 2:00 pm on Tuesday April 19, 2022 at Kurrus Funeral Home in Belleville.
Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday April 19, 2022 at Kurrus Funeral Home with Rev. Ken York officiating. Interment to follow at Valhalla Gardens of Memory.
A Live-Stream of the funeral can be viewed at kurrusfh.com/live-stream starting at 1:50 pm
3 Comments
Our hearts are with Rosemary’s family and friends. It was an honor to care for her. -Unity Hospice
Our Deepest Sympathy on your loss. She was so kind and always had a great smile.
Your friends at Sawyer Livery Service
Even though I hadn’t seen Rosemary in many years, I’m deeply saddened by her passing. Lori & I were best friends throughout high school so I was a constant presence in the Holten household. Rosemary is directly responsible for my love of classic movie, Broadway musicals, big bands & felines. I have too many fond memories to list! She was an amazing woman: Kind, generous, funny (more than some knew) whip smart & heck of a lot of fun. She cherished her loved ones, and I feel grateful to have known Rosemary. They truly don’t make them like her anymore, and the world will feel her loss. She lived 95 years, but I think I somehow believed she would live forever! My deepest sympathies to Lori, Julie & the whole Holten family.